Bart Yasso can thank my Runner’s World subscription for my purchase of his book.  In one of their issues, they had some short excerpts from his My Life On The Run that resulted in an extremely embarrassing outburst of laughter.  Ironically, it was on my way back from the 4 mile Corporate Chase Run in Chicago.  Obviously, I enjoy running… recant that… I force myself to run.  When I gave up martial arts, I had to find a way to keep the fat off and running seemed like a good idea at the time.  Well many years later and I am still running and still trying to figure out why people subject themselves to this torture.  In my quest to discover the answer to this question, I often find myself reading material related to running (for example Runner’s World).  After reading the excerpt in the magazine, I decided I needed purchase Yasso’s book. 

Basically, Bart has lived an interesting life.  He started out embracing the weed and barley derivatives, but eventually found running as a means to rise above it all.  One mile lead to another and eventually he was running full marathons, ultra marathons, traveling all over the world as an ambassador to other countries to the joys (again, I question that word) of running.  He has definitely done more things than I would have ever dreamed possible and clearly appears to be someone who understands a little about true humor.  I was a little worried after a few pages in when the theme I absolutely can’t stand surfaced … My Father didn’t appreciate me and never gave me affection – typically I close the book and take my best shot towards the garbage can.  Generally this is just an easy way to lay blame on others for your life’s failures – take some ownership and stop wasting my time writing about it – that story has already played out.  For some reason I let it slide solely on the fact I had remembered the good portions in the magazine.  Eventually this gave way to some extremely funny (dare I say hysterical) recounts of running from rhinos, competing in a birthday suite race, dragging a burro to the finish line, biking across America and many others.  More surprising was coming down with chronic Lyme Disease – I had absolutely no idea this was even possible, but had a definite impact on his running career. 

I did have a couple of dislikes related to Bart’s book.  At times it really didn’t flow well from chapter to chapter.  For example the cycling chapter really didn’t fit well with the surrounding running topics and the break towards the end to discuss his running heroes was informative, but would have been better further towards the end.  I also didn’t expect the second part of the book to be dedicated to training routines – I have enough of those books so I just skipped all of those pages (~45) and went right to the summary of some races he recommended participating in. 

All in all, definitely worth the money for the gut holding humor.  So even if you are not a runner yourself, pick up the book and experience life through the eyes of another – and for the record, based on the suffering he experienced running, I am still not buy the joy part of the sport.

follow the jump for my highlights

Things that stuck with me:

• Showered with less fatherly love than his star athlete brother’s did (yawn)
• Turns to drugs and alcohol as a substitute (double yawn)
• Startled into living straight by the view of a friend in the hospital
• Later realized his Father was pushing him to reach his potential (triple yawn)
• Apparently you are suppose to stand still when confronted with a Rhino … yep, I’m running my butt off too – remember, you only have to beat at least one person who is with you
• Spray painting runners at random points to reduce cheating is not really a good idea
• I need to look into the details of the Randy Weaver standoff with the FBI – Bart came across it during his cycle journey and it sounds like an interesting story
• He reference the Corn Palace on his cycle trip – although he left off the “waste of time” commentary
• Yes, he was subjected to the “How’s it hanging?” line while participating in the Bare Buns Fun Run – followed by the “don’t run too hard”
• Invented the marathon time predictor – Yasso 800s
• You can actually catch chronic Lyme Disease
• Met Mike Huckabee presidential candidate and form 280 pounder – proving why I run
• Katherine Switzer (first female Boston Marathoner ’67) was saved at the end of the race by her fellow runner and boyfriend who body slammed the race director who attacked her in order to rip her number off
• Today, 40% of marathoners are women (55% in half marathoners)
• I am in good company… 28,999,999 other people out there are pounding the ground just like me